Indoor unit for air-conditioning apparatus

ABSTRACT

An indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus includes a cartridge provided to an air inlet so as to be freely mountable and dismountable. The cartridge accommodates a filter so as to be freely movable in a fore-and-aft direction and has an opening port formed in one end portion in the fore-and-aft direction. A dust box is provided on a side of the end portion of the cartridge. The dust box includes a cleaning mechanism configured to clean the filter and a dust collecting portion configured to collect dust.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. utilityapplication Ser. No. 15/538,098 filed on Jun. 20, 2017, which is a U.S.national stage application of International Application No.PCT/JP2015/059613 filed on Mar. 27, 2015, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an indoor unit for an air-conditioningapparatus, and more particularly, to an indoor unit for anair-conditioning apparatus, which is configured to automatically clean afilter.

BACKGROUND ART

Hitherto, an indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus includes afilter provided to an air inlet of a casing, which is configured toremove dust from air sucked into the casing. Further, there has alsobeen proposed a related-art indoor unit for an air-conditioningapparatus, which has an automatic cleaning function of automaticallycleaning the filter as in a case of an indoor unit for anair-conditioning apparatus described in Patent Literature 1. Morespecifically, in the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatusdescribed in Patent Literature 1, a brush configured to clean the filterand a dust box including a dust collecting portion configured to collectthe dust removed by the brush are arranged in front of a heat exchanger.The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus described in PatentLiterature 1 has a configuration capable of automatically cleaning thefilter by removing the dust with the brush while moving the filter sothat the dust removed from the filter is collected in the dustcollecting portion.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 2008-57883

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

As described above, the dust box configured to automatically clean thefilter is arranged in front of the heat exchanger in the indoor unit foran air-conditioning apparatus described in Patent Literature 1.Therefore, the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus describedin Patent Literature 1 has a problem in that a dimension of the indoorunit in a fore-and-aft direction (depth dimension) of the indoor unit isdisadvantageously increased. Further, the indoor unit for anair-conditioning apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 has anotherproblem in that a shape and a size of the heat exchanger are limited.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems describedabove, and has an object to provide an indoor unit for anair-conditioning apparatus, which has an automatic cleaning function fora filter, and is capable of preventing a dimension of the indoor unit ina fore-and-aft direction from being increased and also capable ofpreventing a shape and a size of a heat exchanger from being limited.

Solution to Problem

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is providedan indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, including: a casinghaving an air inlet formed in an upper surface of the casing and an airoutlet formed below the air inlet; a fan and a heat exchanger providedinside the casing; a filter provided to the air inlet and configured toremove dust from air sucked into the casing by the fan; a cartridgeprovided to the air inlet so as to be freely mountable and dismountable,the cartridge having a ventilation port formed in an upper surface ofthe cartridge, a ventilation port formed in a lower surface of thecartridge, and a filter drive shaft configured to move the filter, thecartridge being configured to accommodate the filter so that the filteris freely mountable and dismountable; a filter drive motor configured todrive the filter drive shaft; a dust box including: a brush configuredto clean the filter; a brush drive shaft, to which the brush is mounted,the brush drive shaft being configured to rotate or swing the brush; anda dust collecting portion configured to collect the dust removed by thebrush; and a brush drive motor configured to drive the brush driveshaft, the cartridge having an opening port formed in one end portion ofthe cartridge in a right-and-left direction and being configured to movethe filter in the right-and-left direction, the dust box being providedto be opposed to the opening port of the cartridge so as to be freelymountable and dismountable and being configured to clean the filter fromthe opening port.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

In the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to thepresent invention, the dust box configured to automatically clean thefilter can be arranged above the heat exchanger. Therefore, the indoorunit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to the presentinvention is capable of preventing the dimension of the indoor unit inthe fore-and-aft direction from being increased and also capable ofpreventing the shape and the size of the heat exchanger from beinglimited while having the automatic cleaning function for the filter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit for an air-conditioningapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the indoor unit for an air-conditioningapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the indoor unit for an air-conditioningapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view for illustrating the indoor unit for anair-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention in a state in which a decorative panel is dismounted.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 , taken along the line A-A.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 , taken along the line B-B.

FIG. 7 are views for illustrating a filter of the indoor unit for anair-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention, in which FIG. 7(A) is a plan view of the filter and FIG. 7(B)is a side view of the filter.

FIG. 8 is an assembly perspective view for illustrating a cartridge ofthe indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating the cartridge ofthe indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view for illustrating the cartridge of the indoor unitfor an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of FIG. 10 , taken along the line C-C.

FIG. 12 is a plan view for illustrating the vicinity of an end portionof the cartridge on a dust box side in the indoor unit for anair-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view for illustrating a filter moving gear body of afilter drive shaft illustrated in FIG. 12 .

FIG. 14 is a main part enlarged view of a portion D illustrated in FIG.7(B) in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view for illustrating a motor unit of theindoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a front sectional view for illustrating the vicinity of theend portion of the cartridge on the dust box side in the indoor unit foran air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is a front sectional view for illustrating the vicinity of anend portion of the cartridge, which is located on a side opposite to thedust box, in the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus accordingto Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a front sectional view for illustrating the vicinity of theend portion of the cartridge, which is located on the side opposite tothe dust box, in the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an assembly perspective view for illustrating another exampleof the cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a plan view for illustrating a state in which the cartridgeillustrated in FIG. 19 is mounted into a casing.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view of FIG. 20 , taken along the line E-E.

FIG. 22 is an assembly perspective view for illustrating the dust box ofthe indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating the dust box ofthe indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view of FIG. 22 , taken along the line F-F, forillustrating a state in which a lid portion is closed.

FIG. 25 is a sectional view of FIG. 22 , taken along the line F-F, forillustrating a state in which the lid portion is open.

FIG. 26 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 , taken along the line G-G, forillustrating a state in which a stopper is closed.

FIG. 27 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 , taken along the line G-G, forillustrating a state in which the stopper is open.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view for illustrating the stopper of the indoorunit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view for illustrating the stopper of the indoorunit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view for illustrating a method of mounting thecartridge into the casing in a state in which the dust box is mountedinto the casing in the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatusaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view for illustrating a method of mounting thecartridge into the casing in a state in which the dust box is notmounted into the casing in the indoor unit for an air-conditioningapparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a sectional view of FIG. 31 , taken along the line H-H.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view for illustrating an example of an indoorunit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view for illustrating another example of theindoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a perspective view for illustrating the indoor unitillustrated in FIG. 34 in a state in which the decorative panel isdismounted.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view for illustrating a further example of theindoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2of the present invention in a state in which the decorative panel isdismounted.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view for illustrating a further example of theindoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view for illustrating a further example of theindoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a furtherexample of the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus accordingto Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit for an air-conditioningapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 isa front view of the indoor unit. FIG. 3 is a right side view of theindoor unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view for illustrating the indoorunit in a state in which a decorative panel is dismounted. FIG. 5 is asectional view of FIG. 1 , taken along the line A-A. FIG. 6 is asectional view of FIG. 1 , taken along the line B-B.

Now, the overall structure of an indoor unit 200 for an air-conditioningapparatus according to Embodiment 1 is described referring to FIG. 1 toFIG. 6 .

The indoor unit 200 is configured to supply conditioned air into anair-conditioned space such as a room through use of a refrigerationcycle configured to circulate refrigerant. The indoor unit 200 mainlyincludes a casing 1 having an air inlet 2 configured to suck indoor airinside and an air outlet 3 configured to supply the conditioned air toan air-conditioned area, fans housed inside the casing 1 and configuredto suck the indoor air from the air inlet 2 so as to blow theconditioned air from the air outlet 3, and a heat exchanger 30configured to generate the conditioned air through heat exchange betweenthe refrigerant and the indoor air.

The casing 1 has the air inlet 2 formed in an upper surface 6 of thecasing 1 and the air outlet 3 formed below the air inlet 2. InEmbodiment 1, the air outlet 3 is formed in a lower part of a frontsurface 4 of the casing 1 and in a lower surface 9 of the casing 1.Vertical airflow-direction flaps 12 configured to adjust a verticalairflow direction of the conditioned air blown from the air outlet andright-and-left airflow-direction flaps (not shown) configured to adjusta right-and-left airflow direction of the conditioned air blown from theair outlet are provided to the air outlet 3. Further, the verticalairflow-direction flaps 12 are configured to close the air outlet 3while the indoor unit 200 is in a stopped state.

The fans and the heat exchanger 30 are provided inside the casing 1 soas to be located on a downstream side of the air inlet 2 and on anupstream side of the air outlet 3. In Embodiment 1, axial-flow fans 20,which are, for example, propeller fans, are used as the fans. Each ofthe axial-flow fans 20 includes a boss portion 21 serving as a rotaryshaft and a plurality of blades 22 provided on an outer peripheral sideof the boss portion 21. The axial-flow fan 20 is driven by a fan drivemotor 23 coupled to the boss portion 21. Further, a duct-shapedbellmouth 24 having an upstream-side end portion with an enlargeddiameter is provided on an outer peripheral side of the axial-flow fan20.

In general, a space for installation of the indoor unit for anair-conditioning apparatus is restricted. For this reason, theaxial-flow fans 20 cannot be increased in size in many cases. Therefore,in order to obtain a desired airflow rate, the plurality of (two inEmbodiment 1) axial-flow fans 20 are arranged side by side in alongitudinal direction (right-and-left direction) of the casing 1 inEmbodiment 1.

The axial-flow fans 20 are not limited to the plurality of axial-flowfans 20. Only a single axial-flow fan 20 may be provided in the indoorunit 200 as long as the desired airflow rate can be obtained. Further,as the fans to be used for the indoor unit 200, crossflow fans may beadopted. In Embodiment 1, a mixed-flow fan is included in the axial-flowfans. This is because an overall air flow from the mixed-flow fan isalso along a rotary shaft of the fan.

The heat exchanger 30 is provided so as to be located on a downstreamside of the axial-flow fans 20 and on the upstream side of the airoutlet 3. The heat exchanger 30 includes a plurality of fins 31 arrangedside by side at predetermined intervals therebetween and a plurality ofheat-transfer tubes 32 passing through the fins 31 in a direction inwhich the fins 31 are arranged side by side, inside which therefrigerant flows. In Embodiment 1, the heat exchanger 30 is formed tohave an approximately W-like shape in side view. During a coolingoperation, when indoor air is cooled by the heat exchanger 30,condensation may occur in the heat exchanger 30. Therefore, the indoorunit 200 according to Embodiment 1 includes drain pans 14 provided belowthe heat exchanger 30, which are configured to collect the condensation.When the crossflow fans are adopted for the indoor unit 200, the heatexchanger 30 may be arranged on an upstream side of the crossflow fans.

The indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1 includes filters 40configured to remove the dust from the air sucked into the casing 1 bythe axial-flow fans 20, a cleaning mechanism 110 configured to clean thefilters 40, and a dust box 90 including a dust collecting portion 91configured to collect the dust removed by the cleaning mechanism 110.The filters 40 are provided to the air inlet 2 of the casing 1 so as tobe freely mountable and dismountable. In Embodiment 1, the filters 40are respectively accommodated in cartridges 50 so as to be freelymovable. The cartridges 50 are provided to the air inlet 2 of the casing1 so as to be freely mountable and dismountable in the fore-and-aftdirection. The cleaning mechanism 110 and the dust box 90 are providedon the upstream side of the axial-flow fans 20 inside the casing 1. InEmbodiment 1, the dust box 90 includes the cleaning mechanism 110. Thedust box 90 is provided in the casing 1 so as to be freely mountable anddismountable in the fore-and-aft direction.

In the indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1, a design panel 11 isprovided in front of the front surface 4 of the casing 1 so as to befreely openable and closable. By closing the design panel 11, frontsides of the cartridges 50 and a front side of the dust box 90 arecovered. In this manner, design properties of the indoor unit 200 can beimproved.

Details of the filters 40, the cartridges 50, the cleaning mechanism110, the dust box 90, and other components are described later.

The indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1 also includes an infraredsensor 151 and a controller 150. The infrared sensor 151 is configuredto detect an indoor temperature distribution, a position of a user in aroom, and other conditions. The controller 150 is configured to controlan angle of the vertical airflow-direction flaps 12, an angle of theright-and-left airflow-direction flaps (not shown), a rotation speed ofthe axial-flow fans 20 (more specifically, a rotation speed of the fandrive motors 23), and other conditions based on operation informationinput to a remote controller (not shown), detection information of theinfrared sensor 151, and other information. The controller 150 includes,for example, a microcomputer.

The indoor unit 200 configured as described above is provided on, forexample, an indoor wall surface. The indoor unit 200 rotationally drivesthe axial-flow fans 20 (more specifically, the fan drive motors 23) tocause the indoor air to pass through the filters 40 to remove the dustin the air so that the indoor air is sucked into a ventilation passageinside the casing 1. The indoor air exchanges heat with the refrigerantthat circulates inside the heat-transfer tubes 32 in the heat exchanger30 to turn into conditioned air. After the conditioned air is controlledto flow in a desired airflow direction by the vertical airflow-directionflaps 12 and the right-and-left airflow-direction flaps (not shown), theconditioned air is supplied from the air outlet 3 into anair-conditioned space.

[Detailed Configurations]

Next, detailed configurations of the filters 40, the cartridges 50, thedust box 90, the cleaning mechanism 110, and other components aredescribed.

(Filter 40)

FIG. 7 are views for illustrating the filter of the indoor unit for anair-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention, in which FIG. 7(A) is a plan view of the filter and FIG. 7(B)is a side view of the filter.

The filter 40 according to Embodiment 1 is formed into a plate-likeshape, and includes an outer frame 41, trapping portions 42, and a grid47. The outer frame 41 forms an outer peripheral portion of the filter40 and is formed into a picture frame-like shape. On an inner peripheralside of the outer frame 41, the trapping portions 42, each formed of amesh-like member and configured to trap the dust in the indoor air, areprovided. Further, on the inner peripheral side of the outer frame 41,the grid 47 configured to suppress deformation of the outer frame 41 isprovided. The filter 40 is accommodated in the cartridge 50 so as to befreely movable in the right-and-left direction.

(Cartridge 50)

FIG. 8 is an assembly perspective view for illustrating the cartridge ofthe indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspectiveview for illustrating the cartridge. FIG. 10 is a plan view forillustrating the cartridge. FIG. 11 is a sectional view of FIG. 10 ,taken along the line C-C.

The cartridge 50 has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape,and is provided to the air inlet 2 of the casing 1 so as to be freelymountable and dismountable in the fore-and-aft direction (see FIG. 4 ).The cartridge 50 includes a first frame 51 that forms an upper surface,a third frame 53 that forms a lower surface, and a second frame 52provided between the first frame 51 and the third frame 53. Further,ventilation ports 54 are formed in the first frame 51, the second frame52, and the third frame 53 at positions opposed to the axial-flow fan20. Further, bars 55 configured to ensure strength of the cartridge 50are provided to the ventilation ports 54 formed in the first frame 51,the second frame 52, and the third frame 53.

In this case, the casing 1 is formed with the air inlet 2 having a largeopening. Therefore, in order to ensure the strength of the casing 1,strength in the vicinity of the air inlet 2 is required to be ensured.In the indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1, the strength in thevicinity of the air inlet 2 (specifically, the strength of the casing 1)is ensured by the cartridge 50 whose strength is ensured by the bars 55.

Further, a handle 80 is provided to the cartridge 50 (for example, thefirst frame 51) at a position on a front surface (on a lower side inFIG. 10 , for example) in a state in which the cartridge 50 is mountedinto the casing 1. By providing the handle 80 to the cartridge 50, thedismount of the cartridge 50 from the casing 1 is facilitated. InEmbodiment 1, the cartridge 50 is formed into a longitudinallysymmetrical shape so as not to limit a direction in which the cartridge50 is mounted into and dismounted from the casing 1, specifically, sothat the cartridge 50 can be mounted into the casing 1 both from a lowerside and an upper side illustrated in FIG. 10 . In other words, thecartridge 50 is formed to have a symmetrical shape across the line C-Cillustrated in FIG. 10 . Therefore, for the cartridge 50 according toEmbodiment 1, the handles 80 are provided both at a position on thefront surface and at a position on a rear surface in the state in whichthe cartridge 50 is mounted into the casing 1.

With the configuration of the cartridge 50 as described above, a spaceserving as an upper traveling path 50 a for the filter 40 is formedbetween the first frame 51 and the second frame 52 that are stacked oneach other. Further, a space serving as a lower traveling path 50 b forthe filter 40 is formed between the second frame 52 and the third frame53.

In this case, the first frame 51 corresponds to an upper frame of thepresent invention, the second frame 52 corresponds to an intermediateframe of the present invention, and the third frame 53 corresponds to alower frame of the present invention.

In the indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1, the filter 40 isconfigured to be positioned in the upper traveling path 50 a of thecartridge 50 during an operating state (cooling operation state andheating operation state). Further, during the cleaning of the filter 40,the filter 40 is configured to be moved into the lower traveling path 50b of the cartridge 50. Thus, the cartridge 50 has an opening port 60formed in one end portion in a right-and-left direction. Morespecifically, the cartridge 50 has the opening port 60 formed in one ofthe end portions in the right-and-left direction, which is located on aside opposed to the dust box 90 including the cleaning mechanism 110.The cleaning mechanism 110 is configured to clean the filter 40 throughthe opening port 60. The movement of the filter 40 between the uppertraveling path 50 a and the lower traveling path 50 b can be realized,for example, by the following drive mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a plan view for illustrating the vicinity of an end portionof the cartridge on the dust box side in the indoor unit for anair-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention. FIG. 13 is a plan view for illustrating a filter moving gearbody of a filter drive shaft illustrated in FIG. 12 . FIG. 14 is a mainpart enlarged view of a portion D illustrated in FIG. 7(B). FIG. 15 is aperspective view for illustrating a motor unit of the indoor unit for anair-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention. FIG. 16 is a front sectional view for illustrating thevicinity of the end portion of the cartridge on the dust box side in theindoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1of the present invention. FIG. 12 is an illustration of the vicinity ofthe end portion of the cartridge 50 on the dust box 90 side in a statein which a filter holding member 58 described later is dismounted. FIG.16 is an illustration of a state in which the cartridge 50 is mountedinto the casing 1.

Now, the drive mechanism configured to move the filter 40 is describedreferring to FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 to FIG. 16 .

The cartridge 50 according to Embodiment 1 includes an arc-shapedportion 59 formed at an end portion on the dust box 90 side (in otherwords, at an end portion on the side where the opening port 60 isformed). A filter drive shaft 67 configured to move the filter 40 isprovided to the arc-shaped portion 59. More specifically, the filterdrive shaft 67 is provided so as to extend along the fore-and-aftdirection in a state in which the cartridge 50 is mounted into thecasing 1. In other words, the filter drive shaft 67 is provided so as tobe opposed to the opening port 60. The filter drive shaft 67 includesfilter moving gear bodies 68 provided to both ends of the filter driveshaft 67 and a shaft portion 73 configured to couple the filter movinggear bodies 68.

Each of the filter moving gear bodies 68 includes a gear 69, a bossportion 70, and a coupling portion 71 configured to be coupled to amotor unit 140. The gears 69 each are arranged at positions opposed tocorresponding side edge portions 43 and 44 of the filter 40. Asillustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 14 , the side edge portions 43 and 44 areside edge portions of the filter 40, which are opposed to each other.Tooth portions 46 are formed on the side edge portions 43 and 44.Specifically, the gears 69 mesh with the tooth portions 46 of the filter40. The boss portion 70 is provided on an inner side of the gear 69.Specifically, the filter moving gear body 68 is configured to couple theboss portion 70 and the shaft portion 73 to each other. In Embodiment 1,the shaft portion 73 is formed to have a smaller diameter than that ofthe boss portion 70 of the filter moving gear body 68. The couplingportion 71 is provided on an outer side of the gear 69, specifically, toan end portion of the filter drive shaft 67.

The drive shaft 67 configured as described above is retained in thearc-shaped portion 59 of the cartridge 50 so as to be freely rotatablein the following manner.

A through hole 62 having a diameter that is larger than that of thecoupling portion 71 of each of the filter moving gear bodies 68 and issmaller than that of the gear 69 of each of the filter moving gearbodies 68 is formed in a side surface 61 being a front-side side surfaceor a rear-side side surface of the arc-shaped portion 59 of thecartridge 50. By inserting the coupling portion 71 of the filter movinggear body 68 into the through hole 62, the filter drive shaft 67 isretained in the arc-shaped portion 59 of the cartridge 50 so as to befreely rotatable. A boss retaining portion 65 is provided at a positionon, for example, the second frame 52 of the cartridge 50, which isopposed to the boss portion 70 of the filter moving gear body 68, andshaft retaining portions 63 are provided at positions opposed to theshaft portion 73.

A cutaway 66 that is open upward and formed by cutting away into anarc-like shape having a larger diameter than that of the boss portion 70is formed in each of the boss retaining portions 65. A cutaway 64 thatis open upward and formed by cutting away into an arc-like shape havinga larger diameter than that of the shaft portion 73 is formed in each ofthe shaft retaining portions 63. Even through the retention of the bossportions 70 in the cutaways 66 of the boss retaining portions 65 so thatthe boss portions 70 are freely rotatable and the retention of the shaftportion 73 in the shaft retaining portions 63 so that the shaft portion73 is freely rotatable, the filter drive shaft 67 is retained in thearc-shaped portion 59 of the cartridge 50 so as to be freely rotatable.Further, the cutaways 64 of the shaft retaining portions 63, which areprovided so as to be opposed to the end portions on the inner side ofthe boss portions 70, are formed so as to have a smaller diameter thanthat of the boss portions 70. As a result, movement of the filter movinggear bodies 68 in the axial direction of the filter drive shaft 67 isrestricted by the shaft retaining portions 63 and the side surface 61 ofthe cartridge 50.

As described above, the filter drive shaft 67 is coupled to the motorunit 140 so as to be driven. In Embodiment 1, as illustrated in FIG. 4 ,the motor unit 140 is provided behind the cartridge 50 (for example, ona rear surface 5 of the casing 1). The motor unit 140 has aconfiguration as illustrated in FIG. 15 . Specifically, the motor unit140 includes a motor 141 and output portions 142, each being connectedto the motor 141 through intermediation of a gear. Further, the motorunit 140 includes the same number of the output portions 142 as thenumber of the cartridges 50, that is, the number of the filter driveshafts 67.

The end portion of the filter drive shaft 67, that is, the couplingportion 71 of the filter moving gear body 68 is inserted into each ofthe output portions 142. In Embodiment 1, at least one convex portion 72is formed on an outer peripheral portion of the coupling portion 71 ofthe filter moving gear body 68. Further, the same number or a largernumber of concave portions 143 as or than the number of the convexportions 72 are formed on an inner peripheral portion of each of theoutput portions 142 of the motor unit 140. By inserting the convexportion 72 of the coupling portion 71 of the filter moving gear body 68into the concave portion 143 of the output portion 142 of the motor unit140, the filter drive shaft 67 and the output portion 142 of the motorunit 140 are configured to be coupled to each other.

In this case, the motor 141 corresponds to a filter drive motor of thepresent invention. Further, the output portion 142 corresponds to anoutput portion of the filter drive motor of the present invention.

By setting the number of the concave portions 143 of each of the outputportions 142 of the motor unit 140 larger than the number of the convexportions 72 of the coupling portion 71 of the filter moving gear body68, the coupling between the filter drive shaft 67 and the motor unit140 can be facilitated. Further, the concave portion 143 may be formedon the coupling portion 71 of the filter moving gear body 68, whereasthe convex portion 72 may be formed on the output portion 142 of themotor unit 140. Still further, the motor unit 140 is not limited to belocated at the position behind the cartridge 50. However, drive noise ofthe motor 141 can be blocked by the cartridge 50 and the dust box 90described later by arranging the cartridge 50 and the dust box 90 infront of the motor unit 140 as in Embodiment 1.

When the motor 141 is driven in a state in which the filter drive shaft67 and the output portion 142 of the motor unit 140 are coupled to eachother, the output portion 142 coupled to the motor 141 throughintermediation of the gear is rotationally driven. Further, the filterdrive shaft 67 coupled to the output portion 142 is also rotationallydriven. In this manner, the filter 40 having the tooth portions 46 thatmesh with the gear 69 of the filter drive shaft 67 can be moved in theright-and-left direction inside the cartridge 50. Specifically, asillustrated in FIG. 16 , the filter 40 located in the upper travelingpath 50 a is reversed through the arc-shaped portion 59 so as to be ableto move into the lower traveling path 50 b. Further, the filter 40located in the lower traveling path 50 b is reversed through thearc-shaped portion 59 so as to be able to move into the upper travelingpath 50 a. At this time, a portion of the filter 40, which is exposedfrom the opening port 60 formed in the arc-shaped portion 59 of thecartridge 50, is cleaned by the cleaning mechanism 110 of the dust box90.

In Embodiment 1, when the filter 40 is reversed through the arc-shapedportion, the filter 40 is guided by a guiding portion 99 of the dust box90, which is described later, so as to enable the movement between theupper traveling path 50 a and the lower traveling path 50 b moresecurely. The rotation of the motor 141 is controlled by the controller150.

For the indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1, the followingconfiguration is adopted so as to prevent a malfunction of the filter 40inside the cartridge 50 and to prevent an operation of the indoor unit200 in a state in which the filter 40 is not accommodated in thecartridge 50.

When tooth skipping occurs between the gear 69 of the filter drive shaft67 and the tooth portions 46 of the filter 40, the filter 40 maymalfunction. For example, when the amount of movement of the side edgeportion 43 and that of the side edge portion 44 of the filter 40 differfrom each other, the filter 40 may be caught in a traveling path.Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 and other figures, thefilter holding member 58 is provided to the cartridge 50 according toEmbodiment 1 so as to be located above the filter drive shaft 67. Thefilter holding member 58 covers a part of the opening port 60 of thecartridge 50 so as to be freely openable and closeable. Further, in astate in which the filter holding member 58 covers the part of theopening port 60, the filter holding member 58 restricts the movement ofthe filter 40 so that the filter 40 does not move in a direction inwhich the filter drive shaft 67 escapes. By providing the filter holdingmember 58, the occurrence of tooth skipping between the gear 69 of thefilter drive shaft 67 and the tooth portions 46 of the filter 40 can beprevented, thereby being capable of preventing the malfunction of thefilter 40.

Further, the cartridge 50 according to Embodiment 1 has spacespartitioned by the bars 55, which have approximately the same sizes.Therefore, the filter 40 can be prevented from being caught in thetraveling path at a higher degree.

For the movement of the filter 40 located in the upper traveling path 50a or the lower traveling path 50 b to the end portion on the sideopposite to the arc-shaped portion 59 (side opposed to the dust box 90),when the filter 40 is caused to be moved even after the arrival of thefilter 40 at the end portion, the filter 40 is deformed in the uppertraveling path 50 a or the lower traveling path 50 b so that the filter40 may be caught in the upper traveling path 50 a or the lower travelingpath 50 b. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 14 , a stopper portion 48is formed on the end portions of the tooth portions 46 formed on theside edge portions 43 and 44 of the filter 40 according to Embodiment 1.The stopper portion 48 reaches the position of the filter drive shaft 67to prevent the filter drive shaft 67 from moving the filter 40.Therefore, excessive movement of the filter 40 can be prevented, therebybeing capable of preventing the filter 40 from being caught in the uppertraveling path 50 a or the lower traveling path 50 b.

FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 are front sectional views for illustrating thevicinity of the end portion of the cartridge, which is located on theside opposite to the dust box, in the indoor unit for anair-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

As illustrated in FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 and other figures, opening ports 75being filter detection opening ports are formed in, for example, theupper surface of the cartridge 50 according to Embodiment 1 at positionsopposed to the filter 40 in a state in which the filter 40 located inthe upper traveling path 50 a is arranged at a regular position(position at which the filter 40 completely covers the ventilation ports54). Further, as illustrated in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 , for the casing 1,a filter detection lever 76 is provided at a position at which theopening ports 75 of the cartridge 50 and one of the end portions areopposed to each other in a state in which the cartridge 50 is arrangedat a regular position in the casing 1 (position at which the filterdrive shaft 67 and the motor unit 140 are coupled to each other). Thefilter detection lever 76 is provided so as to be pivotable in avertical direction about a rotary shaft 77 as a center of pivot.Further, for the casing 1, a filter detection switch 74 is provided at aposition opposed to the other end portion of the filter detection lever76.

As illustrated in FIG. 18 , the filter detection lever 76 is urged by,for example, a spring in a direction in which the filter detection lever76 does not press the filter detection switch 74. As illustrated in FIG.17 , when the filter 40 is arranged at the regular position inside thecartridge 50 that is mounted at the regular position, one end portion ofthe filter detection lever 76 is pushed up by the filter 40, whereas thefilter detection switch 74 is pushed by the other end portion of thefilter detection lever 76. Specifically, when the filter 40 is arrangedat the regular position inside the cartridge 50 that is mounted at theregular position, the filter 40 presses the filter detection switch 74through the opening ports 75. In this case, the controller 150 accordingto Embodiment 1 is configured not to operate the indoor unit 200 (forexample, rotationally drive the axial-flow fans 20) in a state in whichthe filter detection switch 74 is not pressed. Therefore, the indoorunit 200 according to Embodiment 1 can prevent the operation of theindoor unit 200 in a state in which the filter 40 is not accommodated inthe cartridge 50.

The cartridge 50 according to Embodiment 1 is not limited to theconfiguration described above. As illustrated in FIG. 4 , in Embodiment1, a placement portion 15 for placement of the cartridge 50 thereon isprovided to the casing 1 so that the cartridge 50 is supported from alower side by the placement portion 15. When the placement portion 15 isprovided as described above, the third frame 53 of the cartridge 50 maybe formed integrally with the placement portion 15. In this case, theupper traveling path 50 a is formed between the first frame 51 and thesecond frame 52, whereas the lower traveling path 50 b is formed betweenthe second frame 52 and the placement portion 15. Thus, the first frame51 and the second frame 52 have a configuration freely mountable intoand dismountable from the casing 1. In this case, the first frame 51corresponds to the upper frame of the present invention, whereas thesecond frame 52 corresponds to the lower frame of the present invention.

The indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1 uses the axial-flow fans20 as described above. In such a case, the bars 55 of the cartridge 50may be configured as follows.

FIG. 19 is an assembly perspective view for illustrating another exampleof the cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.FIG. 20 is a plan view for illustrating a state in which the cartridgeis mounted into the casing. FIG. 21 is a sectional view of FIG. 20 ,taken along the line E-E.

The bars 55 of the cartridge 50 include a plurality of first bars 56that are radially extended from the rotary shaft (boss portion 21) ofthe axial-flow fan 20 in plan view. The plurality of first bars 56 arearranged at equal pitches or unequal pitches. In order to suppress noisegenerated due to the axial-flow fan 20, the first bars 56 are formedinto a linear shape or an arc-like shape inclined in a directionopposite to a direction of rotation of the axial-flow fan 20 (clockwisedirection in FIG. 20 ) from the rotary shaft (boss portion 21) side ofthe axial-flow fan 20 to an outer peripheral side in plan view.

Specifically, a speed loss area (area in which a flow rate is low) isgenerated in a slipstream behind the bars 55 (airstream on a downstreamside). Therefore, when front edge portions 22 a of the blades 22 of theaxial-flow fan 20 interfere with the slipstream behind the bars 55, asudden pressure fluctuation occurs. Therefore, as a range ofinterference between the front edge portions 22 a of the blades 22 andthe slipstream behind the bars 55 increases, in other words, as a rangeof overlap between the bars 55 and the front edge portions 22 a of theblades 22 in plan view increases, the noise increases.

In this case, the front edge portions 22 a of the blades 22 of theaxial-flow fan 20 are formed into a linear shape or an arc-like shapeinclined in the direction of rotation of the axial-flow fan 20 from therotary shaft side of the axial-flow fan 20 to the outer peripheral sidein plan view (as viewed in a direction of the rotary shaft of theaxial-flow fan 20). On the other hand, the first bars 56 of thecartridge 50 are formed into the linear shape or the arc-like shapeinclined in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of theaxial-flow fan 20 from the rotary shaft side of the axial-flow fan 20 tothe outer peripheral side in plan view. Therefore, the cartridge 50 ofEmbodiment 1 can reduce the range of interference between the front edgeportions 22 a of the blades 22 and the slipstream behind the first bars56, in other words, the range of overlap between the first bars 56 andthe front edge portions 22 a of the blades 22 in plan view can bereduced. As a result, the noise generated due to the axial-flow fan 20can be suppressed.

In particular, when the front edge portions 22 a of the blades 22 areformed into the arc-like shape that is convex in the direction oppositeto the direction of rotation of the axial-flow fan 20 as illustrated inFIG. 20 , each of the first bars 56 only needs to be formed into anarc-like shape that is convex in the direction of rotation of theaxial-flow fan 20. With the configuration described above, the firstbars 56 and the front edge portions 22 a of the blades 22 overlap in astate closer to a vertical state in plan view. Therefore, the noisegenerated due to the axial-flow fan 20 can be further suppressed.

When the first bars 56 are adopted for the bars 55 of the cartridge 50,the number of the first bars 56 and the number of the blades 22 of theaxial-flow fan 20 may be set to have a relationship in which the numbersare prime numbers. Portions in which the front edge portions 22 a of theblades 22 and the slipstream behind the first bars 56 interfere witheach other can be reduced, and therefore the noise generated due to theaxial-flow fan 20 can be further suppressed.

When the first bars 56 are adopted for the bars 55 of the cartridge 50,the bars 55 may include at least one second bar 57 having a circularshape with the rotary shaft (boss portion 21) of the axial-flow fan 20as a center in plan view, as illustrated in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 .Strength of the cartridge 50, in other words, strength in the vicinityof the ventilation ports 54 can be improved.

When the second bar 57 is provided, it is preferred to set the number ofthe first bars on an inner peripheral side and the number of the firstbars on an outer peripheral side different from each other for the atleast one second bar 57. For example, when the first bars 56 are formedon the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side of the secondbar 57, it is preferred to set the number of the first bars 56 providedon the outer peripheral side of the second bar 57 larger than the numberof the first bars 56 provided on the inner peripheral side of the secondbar 57. The dimensions of the spaces partitioned by the first bars 56and the second bar 57 can be set to approximately the same dimensions.Therefore, the filter 40 can be prevented from being caught in thetraveling path. Further, when the strength of the cartridge 50 isensured, the first bars 56 may be formed only on the outer peripheralside of the second bar 57. The second bar 57 may be formed by connectingthe adjacent first bars 56 with linear bars. The thus formed second bar57 has an approximately circular shape. In Embodiment 1, theapproximately circular shape as described above is also referred to as“circular shape”.

When the axial-flow fan 20 is adopted as the fan of the indoor unit 200,a flange portion 78 formed into a circular shape with a diameter equalto or larger than that of an upper opening port of the bellmouth 24 maybe provided on an outer peripheral side of the ventilation port 54formed on the lower surface of the cartridge 50, in other words, on anouter peripheral side of the bars 55 provided to the ventilation port 54so as to project toward the bellmouth 24. The same effects as thoseobtained when the bellmouth 24 is extended in the vertical direction(direction of the rotary shaft of the axial-flow fan 20) are obtained.Therefore, the noise generated due to the axial-flow fan 20 can befurther suppressed. At this time, it is preferred not to form an openingport other than the ventilation port 54 in the lower surface of thecartridge 50. In other words, it is preferred not to form the openingport on an outer peripheral side of the flange portion 78. Air is notsucked into the cartridge 50 other than through the air inlet 2, andtherefore the air flows smoothly into the bellmouth 24. Therefore, thenoise generated due to the axial-flow fan 20 can be further suppressed.The noise suppression effects can also be obtained even when the bars 55formed in a grid pattern are adopted.

(Dust Box 90 and Cleaning Mechanism 110)

FIG. 22 is an assembly perspective view for illustrating the dust box ofthe indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to thepresent invention. FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view forillustrating the dust box. FIG. 24 is a sectional view of FIG. 22 ,taken along the line F-F, for illustrating a state in which a lidportion is closed. FIG. 25 is a sectional view of FIG. 22 , taken alongthe line F-F, for illustrating a state in which the lid portion is open.FIG. 26 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 , taken along the line G-G, forillustrating a state in which a stopper is closed. FIG. 27 is asectional view of FIG. 1 , taken along the line G-G, for illustrating astate in which the stopper is open.

The dust box 90 includes the dust collecting portion 91 configured tocollect the dust removed from the filter 40 by the cleaning mechanism110. The dust box 90 is provided on one end portion side of thecartridge 50 in the right-and-left direction. Further, the indoor unit200 according to Embodiment 1 is configured to collect the dust removedfrom the filters 40 accommodated in the two cartridges 50 in the singledust box. Therefore, the indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1 isprovided between the two cartridges 50 opposed to each other in theright-and-left direction. Further, in Embodiment 1, as described above,the dust box 90 includes the cleaning mechanism 110. Therefore, the twocartridges 50 are provided so that an end portion on the side where theopening port 60 configured to expose the filter 40 therethrough isformed and the dust box 90 are opposed to each other. In other words,the two cartridges 50 respectively have the opening ports 60 formed inthe end portions in the right-and-left direction on the sides opposed toeach other.

The dust box 90 arranged as described above is provided so as to befreely mountable into and dismountable from the casing 1 in thefore-and-aft direction, and includes the dust collecting portion 91, anupper surface 101 provided to an upper part of the dust collectingportion 91, a lid portion 93 configured to close a lower opening of thedust collecting portion 91 so as to be freely openable and closable, andthe cleaning mechanism 110.

The dust collecting portion 91 includes a main body portion 92 and asupport member 97 forming a lower part of a rear surface of the dustcollecting portion 91, and is formed so as to have an approximatelybox-like shape having a lower portion being open. The dust collectingportion 91 is made of a transparent resin so that the amount of dustcollected therein can be visually recognized. Further, the guidingportion 99 having an arc-like cross sectional shape is formed on a sidesurface of the dust collecting portion 91 on a side opposed to thecartridge 50 along the fore-and-aft direction. The dust box 90 accordingto Embodiment 1 is provided between the two cartridges 50. Therefore,the dust collecting portion 91 has the guiding portions 99 on both sidesurfaces. The guiding portion 99 has a shape corresponding to the shapeof the arc-shaped portion 59 of the cartridge 50, and functions as aguide configured to guide the cartridge 50 to a regular mountingposition when the cartridge 50 is mounted into the casing 1 in a statein which the dust box 90 is mounted into the casing 1. The guidingportion 99 also has a function of guiding the filter 40 when the filter40 moves between the upper traveling path 50 a and the lower travelingpath 50 b inside the cartridge 50, in other words, when the filter 40passes through the arc-shaped portion 59 of the cartridge 50.

The guiding portion 99 of the dust collecting portion 91 has an openingport 100 formed at a position opposed to the opening port 60 of thecartridge 50. Specifically, the cleaning mechanism 110 included in thedust box 90, which is described later, is configured to clean the filter40 through the opening port 100 and the opening port 60 of the cartridge50.

The upper surface 101 forms a part of the upper surface 6 of the casing1 in Embodiment 1. A top panel for covering an upper part of the dustbox 90 is not required. Therefore, the number of components can bereduced. Further, the upper surface 101 is formed as a componentindependent of the dust collecting portion 91, and is in the same coloras that of the casing 1. With the configuration described above, thedesign properties of the indoor unit 200 can be improved.

The lid portion 93 includes a rotary shaft 94 that is mounted to thedust collecting portion 91 so as to be freely rotatable, and is mountedto the dust collecting portion 91 through intermediation of the rotaryshaft 94 so as to be freely rotatable. In this manner, the lid portion93 closes the lower opening of the dust collecting portion 91 so as tobe freely openable and closable. Specifically, the dust box 90 isconfigured to allow the dust collected in the dust collecting portion 91to be removed by opening the lid portion 93.

The cleaning mechanism 110 includes a brush 111 configured to clean thefilter 40 and a brush drive shaft 112 to which the brush 111 is mounted,and which is configured to rotate or swing the brush 111. The brushdrive shaft 112 is retained on a front surface and a rear surface of thedust collecting portion 91 so as to be freely rotatable. Morespecifically, an insertion hole 95 into which a front end portion of thebrush drive shaft 112 is inserted is formed in a front surface of themain body portion 92 of the dust collecting portion 91. Through theinsertion hole 95, the front end portion of the brush drive shaft 112 isretained so as to be freely rotatable. An arc-like cutaway 96 is formedin a lower end of a rear surface of the main body portion 92. Anarc-like cutaway 98 is formed in an upper end of the support member 97that is provided below the rear surface of the main body portion 92 soas to be located at a position opposed to the cutaway 96. A rear endportion of the brush drive shaft 112 is interposed between the cutaway96 and the cutaway 98 so as to be freely rotatable. As a result, therear end portion of the brush drive shaft 112 is retained so as to befreely rotatable.

The above-mentioned brush drive shaft 112 is coupled to the motor unit140 so as to be driven by the motor unit 140. More specifically, asillustrated in FIG. 15 , the motor unit 140 includes an output portion144 in addition to the output portions 142. The output portion 144 isconnected to the motor 141 through intermediation of a gear, and isconfigured to be swung or rotated through the rotation of the motor 141.The rear end portion of the brush drive shaft 112 is inserted into theoutput portion 144.

In this case, the motor 141 corresponds to a brush drive motor of thepresent invention. Further, the output portion 144 corresponds to anoutput portion of the brush drive motor of the present invention.

In Embodiment 1, at least one convex portion 145 is formed on an innerperipheral portion of the output portion 144 of the motor unit 140. Thesame number or a larger number of concave portions 113 as or than thenumber of the convex portions 145 are formed on an outer peripheralportion of the rear end portion of the brush drive shaft 112 (the brushdrive shaft 112 according to Embodiment 1 is formed into alongitudinally symmetrical shape, and therefore the concave portion 113of the brush drive shaft 112 is illustrated on the front end portion ofthe brush drive shaft 112 in FIG. 23 ). The convex portion 145 of theoutput portion 144 is inserted into the concave portion 113 of the brushdrive shaft 112, thereby coupling the brush drive shaft 112 and theoutput portion 144 of the motor unit 140 to each other. By setting thenumber of the concave portions 113 of the brush drive shaft 112 largerthan the number of the convex portions 145 of the output portion 144 ofthe motor unit 140, the coupling between the brush drive shaft 112 andthe motor unit 140 can be facilitated. The concave portion 113 may beformed on the output portion 142 of the motor unit 140, whereas theconvex portion 145 may be formed on the brush drive shaft 112.

When the motor 141 is driven in a state in which the brush drive shaft112 and the output portion 144 of the motor unit 140 are coupled to eachother, the output portion 144 coupled to the motor 141 throughintermediation of the gear is swung or rotated. Along with the swing orrotation, the brush drive shaft 112 and the brush 111 are also swung orrotated. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 16 , the brush 111projecting from the opening port 100 of the dust box 90 removes the dustfrom the portion of the filter 40, which is exposed from the openingport 60 of the cartridge 50.

The dust adheres to the brush 111. Therefore, at least one scraper 114configured to scrape off the dust adhering to the brush 111 is providedto the dust collecting portion 91 of the dust box 90. The scraper 114 isprovided so as to extend along the fore-and-aft direction.Convexo-concave portions 115 are continuously formed on a distal endportion along an extending direction.

As described above, the indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1includes the dust box 90 and the cleaning mechanism 110 on the side ofthe end portion of the cartridge 50 in the right-and-left direction.Therefore, the dust box 90 and the cleaning mechanism 110 can bearranged above the heat exchanger 30. Therefore, the indoor unit 200according to Embodiment 1 is capable of preventing the dimension of theindoor unit 200 in the fore-and-aft direction from being increased andalso capable of preventing the shape and the size of the heat exchanger30 from being limited while having an automatic cleaning function forthe filter 40.

In Embodiment 1, a plurality of the scrapers 114 are provided so as tomore securely scrape off the dust adhering to the brush 111. Theadjacent scrapers 114 are formed so that concave portions and convexportions of the convexo-concave portions 115 are shifted from eachother.

As illustrated in FIG. 16 , in Embodiment 1, the single brush 111 isconfigured to clean the two filters 40. When the brush 111 is caused toswing to clean the two filters 40, it is preferred to provide thescrapers 114 at three positions in total including a cleaning portion(opening port 100) for the filter 40 and two positions corresponding toswinging ends of the brush 111, as illustrated in FIG. 24 . With theconfiguration described above, the brush 111 and the scrapers 114 comeinto contact before the cleaning of each of the filters 40. Therefore,re-adhesion of the dust removed by the brush 111 to the filters 40 canbe suppressed, thereby improving cleaning performance for the filters40.

A fixing lever 120 is provided to the above-mentioned dust box 90 so asto fix the dust box 90 at a regular position in the casing 1 (positionat which the brush drive shaft 112 and the motor unit 140 are coupled toeach other). The fixing lever 120 includes a rotary shaft 121 that isprovided so as to project in the right-and-left direction. The rotaryshaft 121 is retained between a lower portion of the lid portion 93 anda fixing-lever lid 124 so as to be freely rotatable. In this manner, afront end portion and a rear end portion of the fixing lever 120 arefreely swingable in the vertical direction. Further, a fixing-lever hookportion 122 is formed on the rear end portion of the fixing lever. Thefixing-lever hook portion 122 is engaged with a dust-box engagingportion 125 that is an opening port formed in the casing 1 (for example,the placement portion 15) in a state in which the dust box 90 isarranged at the regular position in the casing 1. The rear end portionof the fixing lever 120, specifically, the fixing-lever hook portion 122is pressed by a spring 123 from above. Therefore, a state in which thefixing-lever hook portion 122 is engaged with the dust-box engagingportion 125 is kept. By pushing down the front end portion of the fixinglever 120, the engagement between the fixing-lever hook portion 122 andthe dust-box engaging portion 125 is cancelled to enable the dust box 90to be dismounted from the casing 1. By fixing the dust box 90 in thecasing 1 as described above, the rear end portion of the brush driveshaft 112 can be prevented from falling out of the output portion 144 ofthe motor unit 140 during the automatic cleaning of the filter 40.

Although the two filters 40 are configured to be cleaned by the singlebrush 111 in Embodiment 1, two brushes 111 and two brush drive shafts112 may be provided in the dust box 90 so as to respectively correspondto the filters 40. Further, the dust box 90 may be provided for each ofthe cartridges 50. When the axial-flow fans 20 are used as in Embodiment1, a dead space that is not used as an air duct is formed between theadjacent axial-flow fans 20. Therefore, when the cartridges 50 areprovided so as to respectively correspond to the axial-flow fans 20(respectively for the axial-flow fans), the dead space can beeffectively used by providing the dust box 90 between the adjacentcartridges 50 as in Embodiment 1, thereby enabling downsizing of theindoor unit 200.

(Stopper 130)

FIG. 28 and FIG. 29 are perspective views for illustrating the stopperof the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 28 is an illustration of astate in which the stopper 130 is open. FIG. 29 is an illustration of astate in which the stopper 130 is closed.

The stopper 130 according to Embodiment 1 is a plate-like member havingan approximately rectangular shape, and is arranged in front of the dustbox 90. The stopper 130 has a lower end portion that is mounted to thecasing 1 through intermediation of a rotary shaft 131 so as to be freelyrotatable. An upper end portion of the stopper 130 is fixed directly orindirectly to the casing 1 so as to be freely mountable anddismountable. Specifically, in a state in which the stopper 130 is fixedto the casing 1 (in a state illustrated in FIG. 29 in which the stopper130 is closed), the stopper 130 can restrict the dust box 90 from movingforward from the regular position. Therefore, the rear end portion ofthe brush drive shaft 112 can be prevented from falling out of theoutput portion 144 of the motor unit 140 during the automatic cleaningof the filter 40.

Further, similarly to the dust collecting portion 91 of the dust box 90,the stopper 130 is made of a transparent resin. Therefore, the user canrecognize the amount of dust collected in the dust collecting portion 91even through the stopper 130.

Further, the stopper 130 has a width in the right-and-left direction,which is larger than a width of the dust box 90 in the right-and-leftdirection. Therefore, a part of the front surface of the cartridge 50that is provided adjacent to the dust box 90 is covered with the stopper130. Therefore, by fixing the stopper 130 to the casing 1, the cartridge50 can be fixed at the regular position. Further, the rear end portionof the filter drive shaft 67 can be prevented from falling out of theoutput portion 142 of the motor unit 140 during the automatic cleaningof the filter 40.

Further, with the configuration of the stopper 130 as described above,when the upper end portion of the stopper 130 is fixed to the casing 1,specifically, when the stopper 130 is closed, the upper end portion ismoved rearward from a front side. Therefore, when the stopper 130 isclosed, the dust box 90 and the cartridge 50 are pushed rearward by thestopper 130 from the front side. Thus, even when the dust box 90 and thecartridge 50 are not inserted to the regular positions, the dust box 90and the cartridge 50 can be pushed by closing the stopper 130. As aresult, the dust box 90 and the cartridge 50 can be arranged at theregular positions.

Further, an opening port 133 configured to restrict an operation of thefixing lever 120 (in other words, the fixing-lever hook portion 122) ofthe dust box 90 is formed in the stopper 130. The opening port 133 isformed at a position at which the front end portion of the fixing lever120 is inserted in a state in which the fixing-lever hook portion 122 ofthe fixing lever 120 of the dust box 90 is engaged with the dust-boxengaging portion 125 of the casing 1, specifically, in a state in whichthe dust box 90 is arranged at the regular position. Even when thedistal end portion of the fixing lever 120 is pushed down so as tocancel the engagement state between the fixing-lever hook portion 122and the dust-box engagement portion 125 in a state in which the frontend portion of the fixing lever 120 is inserted into the opening port133, the fixing lever 120 interferes with a lower edge portion of theopening port 133 to prevent the fixing lever 120 from being pushed down.Therefore, the dust box 90 can be prevented from being erroneouslydismounted in a state in which the stopper 130 is closed.

Further, the stopper 130 includes bearing portions 134, each beingconfigured to retain a front end portion of the filter drive shaft 67(coupling portion 71 of the filter movement gear body 68) so as to befreely rotatable, and a bearing portion 135 configured to retain thefront end portion of the brush drive shaft 112 so as to be freelyrotatable. When the stopper 130 is closed, the front end portion of thefilter drive shaft 67 is configured to be retained in each of thebearing portions 134 so as to be freely rotatable and the front endportion of the brush drive shaft 112 is configured to be retained in thebearing portion 135 so as to be freely rotatable. With the configurationdescribed above, runout of the front end portion of the filter driveshaft 67 can be suppressed when the filter drive shaft 67 is rotated.Further, runout of the front end portion of the brush drive shaft 112can be suppressed when the brush drive shaft 112 is swung or rotated.Specifically, when the filter drive shaft 67 and the brush drive shaft112 are driven, an interval between the filter drive shaft 67 and thebrush drive shaft 112 can be kept constant. As a result, a distancebetween the brush 111 and the filter 40 can be kept constant, therebyimproving removal performance for the dust.

The bearing portion 134 corresponds to a first bearing portion of thepresent invention, whereas the bearing portion 135 corresponds to asecond bearing portion of the present invention.

In Embodiment 1, the upper end portion of the stopper 130 is fixedindirectly to the casing 1. More specifically, a stopper hook portion132 is provided to the upper end portion of the stopper 130. Further, astopper engaging portion 102 that is an opening port to be engaged withthe stopper hook portion 132 is formed in the upper surface 101 of thedust box 90. The upper end portion of the stopper 130 is fixedindirectly to the casing 1 by engaging the stopper hook portion 132 withthe stopper engaging portion 102 in a state in which the dust box 90 isfixed at the regular position.

When the casing 1 includes a top plate provided above the dust box 90and the cartridge 50, the stopper engaging portion 102 may be formed inthe top plate so that the upper end portion of the stopper 130 is fixeddirectly to the casing 1. Further, when the top plate is provided, theupper end portion of the casing 1 may be mounted to the top plate so asto be freely rotatable. In this case, the stopper engaging portion 102is formed at a position on the front surface 4 of the casing 1, which isbelow the dust box 90, and the stopper hook portion 132 is formed on alower end portion of the stopper 130 so that the lower end portion ofthe casing 1 is fixed to the casing 1.

[Description of Operation]

Next, a cleaning operation for the filter 40 and a mount and dismountoperation (mounting and dismounting operation) for the filter 40, thecartridge 50, and the dust box 90 are described.

[Cleaning Operation]

During the cleaning of the filter 40, the controller 150 controls themotor 141 of the motor unit 140 to rotate. Specifically, the controller150 controls the filter drive shaft 67 to rotate in each of thecartridges 50. As a result, the filter 40 arranged in the uppertraveling path 50 a of the cartridge 50 moves toward the opening port60, specifically, toward the dust box 90, as illustrated in FIG. 16 .Further, the filter 40 is guided by the guiding portion 99 of the dustbox 90 to be bent in an arc-like shape at the part of the opening port60. Then, the filter 40 is securely inserted into the lower travelingpath 50 b.

On the other hand, when the controller 150 controls the motor 141 torotate, the brush 111 and the brush drive shaft 112 of the cleaningmechanism 110 are, for example, swung. As a result, as illustrated inFIG. 16 , the brush 111 projecting from the opening port 100 of the dustbox 90 removes the dust from the part of the filter 40, which is exposedfrom the opening port 60 of the cartridge 50. Further, the dust that isremoved from the filter 40 to adhere to the brush 11 is scraped off bythe scraper 114 to be collected in the dust collecting portion 91 of thedust box 90. The reference symbol “160” in FIG. 16 denotes the dust.

The filter 40 cleaned by the cleaning mechanism 110 passes through theopening port 60 corresponding to a cleaning position to be placed in astate of being arranged in the lower traveling path 50 b. In this state,the controller 150 controls the motor 141 to rotate in a reversedirection. As a result, the filter 40 arranged in the lower travelingpath 50 b moves toward the opening port 60 to be guided by the guidingportion of the dust box 90 to be bent in the arc-like shape and thenreturns to the upper traveling path 50 a. The filter 40 may be cleanedby the cleaning mechanism 110 during the moving operation of the filter40. The dust can be more securely removed from the filter 40.

In Embodiment 1, the cartridges 50 are arranged above the axial-flowfans 20 so as to respectively correspond to the axial-flow fans 20. Bycovering the air inlet 2 with the plurality of cartridges 50, a traveldistance of the filter 40 can be reduced during the cleaning of thefilter 40 in the cartridge 50. As a result, cleaning time for the filter40 can be shortened.

In this case, when the filter 40 is cleaned as in Embodiment 1, an endportion of the upper traveling path 50 a and an end portion of the lowertraveling path 50 b, which are located on the side opposite to theopening port 60, may be connected to each other to form an annularfilter traveling path inside the cartridge 50 so as to accommodate anannular filter inside the cartridge 50. With the configuration describedabove, however, the indoor air sucked into the casing 1 is placed in astate as if the indoor air passed through two filters. As a result, aventilation resistance inside the cartridge 50 increases. Therefore, inEmbodiment 1, the filter 40 formed into the plate-like shape isconfigured to be accommodated in the cartridge.

(Mount and Dismount Operation for Filter 40, Cartridge 50, and Dust Box90)

When the filter 40 is cleaned manually, the cartage 50 is dismountedfrom the casing 1. Further, when the dust collected in the dustcollecting portion 91 of the dust box 90 is disposed of, the dust box 90is dismounted from the casing 1.

In the indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1, when the cartridge 50is dismounted from the casing 1, the design panel 11 provided on thefront surface side of the casing 1 is opened and the stopper 130 is alsoopened. As a result, the cartridge 50 can be moved forward. Thus, bypulling out the cartridge 50 forward, the cartridge 50 can be dismountedfrom the casing 1 (see FIG. 4 ).

When the filter 40 is dismounted from the cartridge 50, the filterholding member 58 of the cartridge 50 is first opened. As a result, themeshing engagement between the tooth portions 46 of the filter 40 andthe gear 69 of the filter moving gear body 68 is canceled to achieve astate in which the filter 40 is dismountable. In this state, the filter40 is pulled out through the opening port 60 of the cartridge 50. As aresult, the filter 40 can be dismounted from the cartridge 50.

When the filter 40 is mounted into the cartridge 50, the filter 40 isinserted into the upper traveling path 50 a of the cartridge 50 from theopening port 60 in a state in which the filter holding member 58 isopen. Thereafter, the filter holding member 58 is closed, therebymeshing the tooth portions 46 of the filter 40 and the gear 69 of thefilter moving gear body 68 with each other.

In this case, the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, inwhich the air inlet is formed in the upper surface of the casing, isgenerally mounted onto a wall surface of an air-conditioned space suchas a room. When the indoor unit is mounted onto the wall surface of theair-conditioned space as described above, the indoor unit is arranged ata high position. Therefore, in the related-art indoor unit for anair-conditioning apparatus, which has the automatic cleaning functionfor the filter and the air inlet formed in the upper surface of thecasing, there is a problem in that it becomes difficult to preciselymount the filter to a moving unit when the filter is mounted into thecasing again, resulting in malfunction of the filter. For example, whenthe filter is mounted in a state in which the gear of the moving unitmeshes only with the tooth portions of one of the side edge portions ofthe filter, only the one side edge portion of the filter moves. As aresult, the filter is caught in the traveling path of the filter.

In the indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1, however, the cartridge50 is dismounted from the casing 1 so that the tooth portions 46 of thefilter 40 and the gear 69 of the filter moving gear body 68 can meshwith each other at an easily workable location. Therefore, in the indoorunit 200 according to Embodiment 1, the filter 40 can be preciselymounted to the gear 69 of the filter moving gear body 68 with ease.

In particular, the indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1 isconfigured to move the filter 40 in the right-and-left direction whenthe filter 40 is automatically cleaned. Therefore, the configuration ofEmbodiment 1 in which the filter 40 is accommodated in the cartridge 50so that the cartridge 50 is freely mountable into and dismountable fromthe casing 1 is particularly useful. More specifically, when the filteris moved in the right-and-left direction in the related-art indoor unit,at least two gears, which are the moving unit provided to the casing,are arranged on the front side and the rear side and a direction inwhich tooth grooves of the gears are formed is the fore-and-aftdirection. In general, the filter is configured to be mounted anddismounted from the front side of the casing. Therefore, when the filteris mounted from the front side of the casing, the tooth portions of thefilter must be inserted to the tooth grooves of both of the two gearsprovided on the front side and the rear side. The work described aboveis extremely difficult.

On the other hand, even when the dust box 90 is dismounted from thecasing 1, the design panel 11 provided on the front surface side of thecasing 1 is first opened. Then, the stopper 130 is also opened. Byopening the stopper 130, the operation of the fixing lever 120 of thedust box 90 is enabled. By pulling out the dust box 90 forward in astate in which the front end portion of the fixing lever 120 is pusheddown to cancel the engagement between the fixing-lever hook portion 122and the dust-box engaging portion 125, the dust box 90 can be dismountedfrom the casing 1 (see FIG. 4 ). Thereafter, the lid portion 93 of thedust box 90 is opened so that the dust collected in the dust collectingportion 91 of the dust box 90 is disposed of.

The cartridge 50 and the dust box 90 can be mounted and dismountedindependently of each other. Specifically, the cartridge 50 alone can bedismounted from the casing 1, and the dust box 90 alone can bedismounted from the casing 1. Therefore, for the indoor unit 200according to Embodiment 1, ease of maintenance can be improved.

The cartridge 50 and the dust box 90 are pushed into the casing 1 fromthe front side so as to be mounted into the casing 1. As describedabove, the cartridge 50 and the dust box 90 can be mounted anddismounted independently of each other. Therefore, in the indoor unit200 according to Embodiment 1, the cartridge 50 may be mounted into thecasing 1 in a state in which the dust box 90 is mounted into the casing1, and the cartridge 50 may be mounted into the casing 1 in a state inwhich the dust box 90 is not mounted into the casing 1.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view for illustrating a method of mounting thecartridge into the casing in a state in which the dust box is mountedinto the casing in the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatusaccording to the present invention. FIG. 30 is an illustration ofmounting of the cartridge 50 arranged on a right side surface 7 side ofthe casing 1 (see FIG. 1 ). A method of mounting the cartridge 50arranged on a left side surface 8 side of the casing 1 (see FIG. 1 ) isthe same.

In a state in which the dust box 90 is mounted into the casing 1, whenthe cartridge 50 is pushed into the casing 1 from the front side, theleft side end portion (arc-shaped portion 59) of the cartridge 50 isguided by the guiding portion 99 of the dust box 90. Further, the rightside end portion of the cartridge 50 is guided by a side wall portion 10a that is formed on the casing 1 in the fore-and-aft direction. As aresult, when the cartridge 50 is pushed into the casing 1 from the frontside, the cartridge 50 is guided to the regular mounting position. Then,the rear end portion of the filter drive shaft 67 (coupling portion 71of the filter moving gear body 68) provided to the cartridge 50 and theoutput portion 142 of the motor unit 140 are coupled to each other. Byproviding the guiding function for the cartridge 50 to the dust box 90as in Embodiment 1, a guiding member configured to guide the end portionof the cartridge 50, which is located on the dust box 90 side, is notrequired to be additionally provided. Therefore, the number ofcomponents can be reduced.

The cartridge 50 arranged at the regular mounting position is restrainedfrom moving upward by a holding plate 10 c provided so as to projectfrom the side wall portion 10 a toward the cartridge 50 and an upperportion of the guiding portion 99 of the dust box 90.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view for illustrating a method of mounting thecartridge into the casing in a state in which the dust box is notmounted into the casing in the indoor unit for an air-conditioningapparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 32 is a sectionalview of FIG. 31 , taken along the line H-H. FIG. 31 and FIG. 32 areillustrations of mounting of the cartridge 50 arranged on the right sidesurface 7 side of the casing 1 (see FIG. 1 ). A method of mounting thecartridge 50 arranged on the left side surface 8 side of the casing 1(see FIG. 1 ) is the same.

In a state in which the dust box 90 is not mounted into the casing 1,the left side end portion (arc-shaped portion 59) of the cartridge 50cannot be guided by the guiding portion 99 of the dust box 90.Therefore, in the indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1, a guidegroove 10 is formed on the casing 1. The guide groove 10 is formed, forexample, between the side wall portion 10 a and a convex portion 10 bformed on the placement portion 15. Further, the guide groove 10 isformed so that a width in the right-and-left direction increases fromthe rear side toward the front side. Further, a convex portion 79 isformed on the cartridge 50 so as to be located at a position opposed tothe guide groove 10.

In a case where the dust box 90 is not mounted into the casing 1, whenthe cartridge 50 is pushed into the casing 1 from the front side, theconvex portion 79 of the cartridge 50 is inserted into the guide groove10. In this case, a front side portion of the guide groove 10 has alarge width in the right-and-left direction. Therefore, the convexportion 79 of the cartridge 50 can be easily inserted into the guidegroove 10. When the cartridge 50 is further pushed rearward in thisstate, the convex portion 79 of the cartridge 50 is guided by the sidewall (side wall portion 10 a or convex portion 10 b) of the guide groove10. As illustrated in FIG. 32 , a rear portion of the guide groove 10 isformed so that a width thereof in the right-and-left direction isslightly larger than a width of the convex portion 79 of the cartridge50 in the right-and-left direction. Therefore, the cartridge 50 isguided to the regular mounting position. Then, the rear end portion ofthe filter drive shaft 67 (coupling portion 71 of the filter moving gearbody 68) provided to the cartridge 50 and the output portion 142 of themotor unit 140 are coupled to each other. As described above, in theindoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1, even in the case where thedust box 90 is not mounted into the casing 1, the cartridge 50 can beeasily mounted into the casing 1.

Embodiment 2

In Embodiment 2, a variation of the indoor unit 200 described inEmbodiment 1 is described. In Embodiment 2, items that are notparticularly described are the same as those of Embodiment 1, and thesame functions and configurations are denoted with the same referencesymbols in description.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view for illustrating an example of an indoorunit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention.

In Embodiment 1, the plurality of cartridges 50 are provided to the airinlet 2 of the casing 1. On the other hand, the indoor unit 200illustrated in FIG. 33 includes a single cartridge 50 provided to theair inlet 2 of the casing 1. Specifically, the indoor unit 200illustrated in FIG. 33 has a configuration of covering the air inlet 2with a single filter 40. Further, in the indoor unit 200 illustrated inFIG. 33 , the opening port 60 is formed on the right side end portion ofthe cartridge 50. The dust box 90 is provided so as to be opposed to theright side end portion of the cartridge 50.

When the indoor unit 200 is configured as illustrated in FIG. 33 , theeffects of effectively utilizing the dead space between the adjacentaxial-flow fans 20 cannot be obtained. However, the other effectsdescribed in Embodiment 1 can be obtained.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view for illustrating another example of theindoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2of the present invention. FIG. 35 is a perspective view for illustratingthe indoor unit in a state in which the decorative panel is dismounted.

For example, there is supposed a case where a maintenance engineermanually cleans the filter 40 and the user only automatically cleans thefilter 40. In such a case, the cartridge 50 is not particularly requiredto be used. Specifically, the filter drive shaft 67 may be directlyprovided to the casing 1.

When the indoor unit 200 is configured as illustrated in FIG. 34 andFIG. 35 , the effects of enabling the meshing engagement between thetooth portions 46 of the filter 40 and the gear 69 of the filter movinggear body 68 at the easily workable location cannot be obtained.However, the other effects described in Embodiment 1 can be obtained.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view for illustrating a further example of theindoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2of the present invention in a state in which the decorative panel isdismounted.

Even when the indoor unit 200 is configured so as not to use thecartridge 50, the air inlet 2 can be covered with the single filter 40and the dust box 90 can be arranged on one side of the filter 40 in theright-and-left direction as in the case of the indoor unit 200illustrated in FIG. 33 .

When the indoor unit 200 is configured as illustrated in FIG. 36 , thesame effects as those of the indoor unit 200 illustrated in FIG. 34 andFIG. 35 can be obtained, except for the effect of effectively utilizingthe dead space between the adjacent axial-flow fans 20.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view for illustrating a further example of theindoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2of the present invention.

The filter 40 can be automatically cleaned through relative movementbetween the filter 40 and the cleaning mechanism. Therefore, when theindoor unit 200 is configured without using the cartridge 50 asillustrated in FIG. 34 to FIG. 36 , a cleaning mechanism 110 aillustrated in FIG. 37 can be used in place of the cleaning mechanism110 described in Embodiment 1. More specifically, the indoor unit 200illustrated in FIG. 37 includes the dust box 90 arranged on one side ofthe filter 40 in the right-and-left direction. The cleaning mechanism110 a of the indoor unit 200 is provided above the fans (the axial-flowfans 20 are exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 37 ), and includes a brushfreely movable in the right-and-left direction and other components. Thecleaning mechanism 110 a moves in the indoor unit 200 illustrated inFIG. 37 . Therefore, the filters 40 are not required to be moved. Thus,the indoor unit 200 illustrated in FIG. 37 does not include the filterdrive shaft 67.

Even when the indoor unit 200 is configured as illustrated in FIG. 37 ,the dust box 90 and the cleaning mechanism 110 a can be arranged abovethe heat exchanger 30. Therefore, the dimension of the indoor unit 200in the fore-and-aft direction can be prevented from being increased andthe shape and the size of the heat exchanger 30 can also be preventedfrom being limited while the automatic cleaning function for the filter40 is provided.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view for illustrating a further example of theindoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2of the present invention.

In Embodiment 1, the strength in the vicinity of the air inlet 2(specifically, the strength of the casing 1) is ensured by the cartridge50 whose strength is ensured by the bars 55. When the indoor unit 200 isconfigured without using the cartridge 50, however, the bars 55 providedto the cartridge 50 in Embodiment 1 may be provided directly to the airinlet 2 of the casing 1 so as to ensure the strength in the vicinity ofthe air inlet 2 (specifically, the strength of the casing 1).

When the axial-flow fan 20 is adopted as the fan of the indoor unit 200in this case, the bars 55 including the first bars 56 or the bars 55including the first bars 56 and the second bars 57 only need to beprovided directly to the air inlet 2 (at a position opposed to theaxial-flow fan 20), as illustrated in FIG. 38 . The range ofinterference between the front edge portions 22 a of the blades 22 andthe slipstream behind the first bars 56 can be reduced. Therefore, thenoise generated due to the axial-flow fan 20 can be suppressed.

The case where the indoor unit 200 is configured without using thecartridge 50 corresponds to, for example, the case illustrated in FIG.34 to FIG. 37 , and a case where the indoor unit 200 is configured so asnot to have the automatic cleaning function for the filter 40.

In this case, the bars 55 only need to be provided on at least one of anupstream side and a downstream side of the filter 40. When the bars 55are provided on the downstream side of the filter 40, specifically,between the filter 40 and the axial-flow fan 20, the flange portion 78formed into the circular shape with the diameter equal to or larger thanthat of the upper opening port of the bellmouth 24 (flange portion 78illustrated in FIG. 21 ) may be provided on the outer peripheral side ofthe bars 55 so as to project toward the bellmouth 24. The same effectsas those obtained when the bellmouth 24 is extended in the verticaldirection (direction of the rotary shaft of the axial-flow fan 20) areobtained, and therefore the noise generated due to the axial-flow fan 20can be further suppressed. In this case, it is preferred not to form theopening port on the outer peripheral side of the flange portion 78. Theair flows smoothly into the bellmouth 24, and therefore the noisegenerated due to the axial-flow fan 20 can be further suppressed.

FIG. 39 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a furtherexample of the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus accordingto Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

The cartridge 50 of the indoor unit 200 illustrated in FIG. 39 isconfigured to accommodate the filter 40 so as to be freely movable inthe fore-and-aft direction. In other words, the indoor unit 200illustrated in FIG. 39 is configured to enable the mounting of thecartridge 50 described in Embodiment 1 after rotating the cartridge 50by 90 degrees in plan view. Therefore, the indoor unit 200 illustratedin FIG. 39 has the opening port 60 formed in one end portion of thecartridge 50 in the fore-and-aft direction. The dust box 90 is providedso as to be opposed to the end portion. In FIG. 39 , an example wherethe dust box 90 is arranged so as to be opposed to the front side endportion of the cartridge 50 is illustrated.

Even when the indoor unit 200 is configured as illustrated in FIG. 39 ,the cartridge 50 is dismounted from the casing 1 so that the toothportions 46 of the filter 40 and the gear 69 of the filter moving gearbody 68 can mesh with each other at the easily workable location.Therefore, in the indoor unit 200 according to Embodiment 1, the filter40 can be precisely mounted to the gear 69 of the filter moving gearbody 68 with ease.

Although an example where a crossflow fan 25 is adopted for the indoorunit 200 is illustrated in FIG. 39 , it is apparent that the axial-flowfan 20 may also be adopted.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1 casing 2 air inlet 3 air outlet 4 front surface 5 rear surface        6 upper surface 7 right side surface 8 left side surface 9 lower        surface    -   10 guide groove 10 a side wall portion 10 b convex portion 10 c        holding plate 11 design panel 12 vertical airflow-direction flap        14 drain pan 15 placement portion 20 axial-flow fan 21 boss        portion 22 blade 22 a front edge portion 23 fan drive motor 24        bellmouth 25 crossflow fan 30 heat exchanger 31 fin 32        heat-transfer tube 40 filter 41 outer frame    -   42 trapping portion 43 side edge portion 44 side edge portion 46        tooth portion 47 grid 48 stopper portion 50 cartridge 50 a upper        traveling path 50 b lower traveling path 51 first frame 52        second frame 53 third frame 54 ventilation port 55 bar 56 first        bar 57 second bar 58 filter holding member 59 arc-shaped portion        60 opening port    -   61 side surface 62 through hole 63 shaft retaining portion 64        cutaway 65 boss retaining portion 66 cutaway 67 filter drive        shaft    -   68 filter moving gear body 69 gear 70 boss portion 71 coupling        portion 72 convex portion 73 shaft portion 74 filter detection        switch    -   75 opening port 76 filter detection lever 77 rotary shaft 78        flange portion 79 convex portion 80 handle 90 dust box 91 dust        collecting portion 92 main body portion 93 lid portion 94 rotary        shaft 95 insertion hole 96 cutaway 97 support member 98 cutaway        99 guiding portion 100 opening port 101 upper surface 102        stopper engaging portion 110 cleaning mechanism 110 a cleaning        mechanism 111 brush 112 brush drive shaft 113 concave portion        114 scraper 115 convexo-concave portion 120 fixing lever 121        rotary shaft 122 fixing-lever hook portion 123 spring 124        fixing-lever lid 125 dust-box engaging portion    -   130 stopper 131 rotary shaft 132 stopper hook portion 133        opening port 134 bearing portion 135 bearing portion 140 motor        unit 141 motor 142 output portion 143 concave portion 144 output        portion 145 convex portion 150 controller 151 infrared sensor        160 dust 200 indoor unit

The invention claimed is:
 1. An indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, comprising: a casing having an air inlet formed in an upper surface of the casing and an air outlet formed below the air inlet; a fan and a heat exchanger provided inside the casing; at least one filter provided to the air inlet and configured to remove dust from air sucked into the casing by the fan; at least one cartridge provided to the air inlet so as to be freely mountable and dismountable, the at least one cartridge having a ventilation port formed in an upper surface of the at least one cartridge, a ventilation port formed in a lower surface of the cartridge, and a filter drive shaft configured to move the at least one filter, the at least one cartridge being configured to accommodate the at least one filter so that the at least one filter is freely mountable and dismountable; a filter drive motor configured to drive the filter drive shaft; a dust box comprising: a brush configured to clean the at least one filter; a brush drive shaft, to which the brush is mounted, the brush drive shaft being configured to rotate or swing the brush; and a dust collecting portion configured to collect the dust removed by the brush; and a brush drive motor configured to drive the brush drive shaft, the at least one cartridge having an opening port formed in one end portion of the at least one cartridge in a fore-and-aft direction and being configured to move the at least one filter in the fore-and-aft direction, the dust box being provided to be opposed to the opening port of the at least one cartridge so as to be freely mountable and dismountable and being configured to clean the at least one filter through the opening port using the brush, wherein the air outlet of the casing is formed at least partially on a front surface of the casing; and the fore-and-aft direction extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the casing.
 2. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dust box and the at least one cartridge are provided so as to be mountable and dismountable independently of each other.
 3. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one cartridge is configured to be freely mountable into and dismountable from the casing in the fore-and-aft direction.
 4. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dust box is arranged so as to be opposed to a front side end portion of the cartridge.
 5. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 4, wherein the front side end portion of the cartridge is the one end portion of the at least one cartridge in the fore-and-aft direction having the opening.
 6. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the casing extends further in a left-and-right direction than in the fore-and-aft direction.
 7. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dust box is freely mountable and dismountable in the fore-and-aft direction.
 8. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one filter does not cross the brush drive shaft in the fore-and-aft direction as the brush is cleaning the at least one filter. 